Carcass splitter



Feb. 1,1927. 1,616,058

- H, A.`MEYER cAncAss/PLITTER .FileqfJulya 192e Y Patented Pela. l, lldi "WQLF MAGHNE Y CARCASS Application filed July 3,

This invention relates to means for dividing or splitting animal carcasses in the process of butchering, and has vtor its object the provision ot a power-driven apparatus of' inexpensive construction which may be readily7 suspended to travel with the carcass and easily manipulated to make a clean cut in the carcass.

One embodiment oic the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and will be fully described, the novel features being particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

ln the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, with parts in section approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In butchering operations, the carcass to be divided is suspended 'from an overhead conveyor, and it is common practice to provide a track parallel with the conveyor upon which a cutter may tra-vel to act upon the carcass as it moves with the conveyor.

In the annexed drawing', the reference nue meral 1 indicates a track rod ot circular' cross section which is secured in any convenient manner across the butcherinp,` room near ythe ceiling and parallel with the carcass conveyor. i carriage E3 is mounted to travel alone; .the track and comprises two side plates 3 each havingl widely-diverging arms between which at the ends thereof` are mounted grooved rollers l restingon the track and supportil'ig` the carriage for movement alo-np; the same. At the center of the carriage is a grooved roller 5 which runs against the under side of the track and thereby prevents the carriage rising from the track. This arrangement of grooved rollers on a track of circular cross section permits a side swine` of the carriage on the track, transversely thereof? in the event that the carcass being' treated on a parallel trac-k is somewhat out of reach. For ease of movement, the rollers may be provided with antifriction bearings. rthe lower central. por-- tions ont the carriage are secured together by clamp-bolts 6 and are 'formed into or carry a socket 7 in which is secured the upper end of a hanger or suspension bar consisting ot upper and lower similar members 8 and 9, the upper member having a longitudinal slot 10 in its lower portion and the lower SLTTER.

or rocking arm 12 which is provided at its i rear end with a handle or p jrip 13 and has its front end rinly secured to the frame or housing otl an electric motor 14 which may be of any well-known or approved type and is illustrated conventionally. Between the Julcrum and the :front end ot the arm 12, a

.bracket or trarne 15 is formed integral therewith or secured rigidly thereto and extends laterally therefrom to provide an arm having' a handle 16 at its end and lying,l in a vertical plane parallel with the planeet the rocking arm 12 and following a line extendine; upwardly and forwardly relative to the rocking arm. Between the motor and the bracket, a gear case 17 is carried by the end of the motor and houses a train ol lnearing, indicated at 18, operatively connecting the motor shaft with a saw arbo-r 19 upon which is secured a circular saw 20, and a bowed sgrinff 21 is secured to the bracket 15 and extends over the saw so as to protect the operator from contact with the saw teeth and consequent injury.

Secured upon the upper portion ot the hanger is a housing; 22 Contarining1 a spring drum which may be of any well-known construction. Secured to the drum to wind thereon and passing through slots 93 in the housing 2Q are straps 24's which entend downwardly and forwardly and are connected through coiled springs 25 with the. motor casing', the motor and cutter beingI thus supported in such a. manner as to be cushioned against the shock and resistance oiiiered by thework and also counter-balanced so that rit may be easily swung; up out ot the way when not in use.

llfhen the machine is at rest., it will hang ti'oin the track substantially perpendicularly. lllhen a carcass is to be out., the operator gjrasps the handle 13 'with his lett hand and the handle 16 with his right hand and presses l'orward thereon to swing the entire apparatus toward the carcass about the track a center. llaving` thus brought the saw or cutter into the proper position over the tit) carcass, an upward pull is exerted upon the handle 13 and the handle 16 is pushed forwardly and downwardly to bring' the cutter into engagement with the carcass and cause it to divide the same. It will be understood, of course, that the operator will move the cutting apparatus along' the track at the same speed as the carcass travels so that the carcass will be divided without any interruption to its movement. Then the cutting has been finished, the force applied to the handles v13 and 16 is relaxed and the spring drum will act to raise the cutter and motor out of the way. The operator, nowever, will push the machine back along the track to its starting point to repeat its operation upon a second carcass. The device can be made to cut through the entire length of the carcass, but many packers object to such operation because the bone-dust clings to the carcass and makes it unclean and unsightly. For this reason, a cut of about one foot through the rump suffices. the division being' completed by the use of the Cleaver'.

My apparatus is exceedingly simple and may be easily installed and nianipulatcd. 1t is efficient in use and mav be produced and installed -at a low cost.

.lt is to be understood that various chang-es and modifications in the structure as shown could be made and it is not intended to limit the accompanying' claims to the structure shown. as it is obvious ,modifications and changes could be made without departing; from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example` it is obvious and it is applicants intention to cover a structure wherein the motor might be attached to the hanger itself rather than to the swinging! arm and: the saw or cutter mounted on the swinging' arm connected for driving' operation with the shaft of the motor by means of a chain drive mounted on a sprocket on the end of the motor and the shaft of the saw. The sprockets mi ,ight vary in size so as to vary the speed of the saw. Also instead of a chain drive in this connection we might readily utilize shafting' properly mounted and carrying bevel gearing and similar results accomplished.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desireto secure by l'ietters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination of a track` a carriage mounted to travel along' the track and to swing about the same, a hanger secured to and dep-ending from the carriage, and a cutter and motor therefor mounted at the lower end of the hanger for swinging movement relative to the hanger.

2. The combination of a track-a carriage mounted thereon, a hanger pivoted on the carriage for movement transverse to the track, a rocking arm mounted at the lower end of the hanger, and a cutter and motor therefor carried by said arm.

8. The combination of a track, a carriage thereon, a hanger pivoted on the carriage for movement transverse to the track, a cutter and motor therefor mounted on the lower end of the hanger, and means for moving; the same downwardly and forwardly whereby the cutter may be engaged with and moved through the work. Y

at. The combination of a track, a carriage thereon, a hanger depcndins4 from the car riage, a cutter and motor therefor mounted on the lower end of the hanger, and means for moving' the same downwardly and forwardly whereby the cutter may be engaged with and moved through the work` and means for withdrawing the cutter from the work.

5. rlhe combination of a tracln a carriage mounted thereon, a lia-.nger depending from the carriagel` a rocking arm mounted at the lower end of the hanger, and a cutter and motor therefor carried by said arm, and a yieldable connection between the rocking arm and the hanger. u

6. rllhe con'ibination of a track, a carriage mounted thereon, a hanger dependingfrom the earriang'e, a rocking arm mounted at the lower end of the hanger, and a cutter and motor therefor carried by said. arm, and a lateral bracket on the arm adjacent the n'iotor anu provided with a handle, the arm being provided with a handle at its end remote from the motor.

T. rThe combination of a track. a carriage ,uuiunted thereon, a hanger depending' from the carriage, a rocking' arm mounted at the lower end of the hang-er, and a cutter and motor therefor carried b v said arm, a spring drum mounted ou the hanger. and a ,strap wound on the drum and connested with the arm.

8. The combination of a tracln a carriage mounted to travel along lthe track and :sr-ring; about the same, a hanger pivoted on the carriage for movement transverse to the track, a rocking arm mounted at the lower end of the hanger, and u cutter and motor therefor carried by said arm.

9. rllhe combination of a track, a carriage thereon, a hanger depending from the carringe, a rocking arm mounted between its ends at the lower cud of the hanger, a motor secured upon the front end of said arm. a bracket on the side of the arn'i, a cutter 1letween the motor and said bracket, and a case carried by the frame of the motor iind housing' ges ing;` connecting the motor with the cutter, whereby to provide a com niet operating unit.

In testin'iony whereof 1 hereunto :diie: inv signature. 

